Naplan Writing Test 2011
This year's NAPLAN tests are taking place in Australia this week. They are the national standard tests, which test student's levels in literacy and numeracy.
There is plenty of controversy surrounding these tests, whether they are useful, necessary and how much cheating goes on by the teachers and schools, to ensure a high rating in their results. But all that aside, this year my eldest daughter is taking these tests for the first time.
Yesterday was the writing component. Their question to write about, giving reasons, was, "Should money be spent on toys and games?" What a question to ask kids! I wonder if any actually chose to argue the negative on this one?
It got me thinking about what my answer to this question would be.
Overall, I found myself saying YES! Although I may not agree with buying my kids all the latest and greatest toys, and I'm sure my kids think I'm a mean mummy because I don't. I do think that toys and games are an important, perhaps vital part of childhood.
Toys and games can help kids developmentally - they use 'fine motor skills’ when playing board games, manipulating barbie dolls, or building Lego; and also 'gross' motor skills when playing with balls, hula hoops and skipping ropes.
Games can help with literacy and numeracy skills - when reading instructions and rules, playing with dice in board games or counting when skipping, and scoring when playing soccer.
Sure, there was a time when kids just played outside with nothing more than sticks, leaves and the natural environment - and some of the games developed then, are still played today - for example 'chuck stones' - a game of dexterity, that uses nothing more than stones found on the ground. But society has come a long way since then. Toys and games are an important part of kids’ lives and development - physical, mental and social. So yes, I do think that 'money should be spent on toys and games'!
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